For the ninth year in a row, Education Credit Union has awarded Pocket Change Grants to schools, this year donating $41,903. The grants are made possible by ECU employees who donate money, at their discretion, for the privilege of wearing jeans on Fridays, and the ECU board directors generously match the employees’ donations.

Federally insured, low-income credit unions that want to become certified Community Development Financial Institutions can apply to use the National Credit Union Administration’s qualification process for streamlined CDFI certification from Jan. 13 through Feb. 9.